I've been thinking that I might re-do the Columbia list of premier with false people, as this gives me way more liberty to play with things. So this is something of a start to the whole thing. The country's independence is in 1833, but I haven't yet decided how I want to show the beginnings of the state.
1844-1850: Francis C. Adams (National)
1844: xx (Federal)
1848: xx (Federal)
The scion of the Adams political dynasty
1850-1856: Charles A. Winthrop (National)
1852: xx (Federal)
When Francis C. Adams resigned the premiership in 1850 mid-legislature, there were signs of the storm to come. Tensions were high in the west and in Congress, successive tariff-raising bills were introduced amidst the National’s plan for forcing local and state governments to invest in developing infrastructure were decried as tyrannical, prompting fits of anger in the backbenches and the occasional duel between members of both parties.
Out west, rumours spread of Federal militias arming against any tax officials or attempts by military forces to reduce the power of the states, the ultimate aim to enforce the Federal programme by force, expanding suffrage and returning power to the individual. In the east however, rumours also spread, but of the pact of the Federals with the English or the Devil – depending on the degree of religious puritanism.
In that atmosphere, ultimately it was a matter of time for things to explode. On 14 June 1853, during a local festival in the – then – small town of Adrian, a standoff between a mob and soldiers stationed there turned into a violent street clash resulting in the expulsion of the troops from the town. In response, military authorities sent a larger detachment to impose peace on the town, which called upon neighbouring towns for succour. The larger detachment was again expelled, but not after killing several men. From there, things spiralled and within two months half the country was in open revolt against Columbus and Winthrop’s authority. The rebels called for universal franchise, lower tariffs and taxes, a stronger response to Indian attacks and an end to the so-called ‘Massachusetts Monarchs’ [1]. The leaders of the Federal Party, like Marcus Morton, seized the opportunity to end their absence from power and enforce their programme, and put themselves at the helm of the revolt.
Historians today point at Winthrop’s dubitative nature as part of the reason for the beginning of the war, by delaying the start of operations in putting down the revolt. Ultimately, Winthrop would find his determination in leading the war effort putting down the Federalist rebellion. Along the way, and taking advantage of the war power, Winthrop recrafted the Columbian state to mirror his party’s ideals of strong government and a strong, protectionist economy.
By 1855, the civil war was over, the west had been pacified and the process of reconstruction was underway. In October of that year, Morton and the other major leaders of the rebellion were publicly executed for treason. At this point, Adams confided in his party that he had no desire to run again, and instead opened the field for the party conference to choose his successor.
1856-1864: Jasper E. Morgan (National)
1856: scattered opposition
1860: Lucius C. French (People’s)
Jasper E. Morgan was narrowly elected party leader by its congressional conference. With the backing of the party’s grandees, Morgan’s election was guaranteed. In the 1856 election there was virtually no opposition. The Federal leaders and other rebel commanders had been exiled, imprisoned, executed or disenfranchised. As a result, the National agenda could pass in a legislature where the party held a commanding majority. Morgan’s tenure was marked by his diplomatic overtures towards Britain and the expansion of the railway westwards.
Domestically, Morgan stood at odds against his own party over immigration, the great political issue of the 1860s. The great famine that struck Ireland drove thousands of Irishmen to move to Columbia. Many National politicians, remembering the support of 1848 revolutionaries to the Federal cause, were very wary of allowing further immigration into the country, particularly of Catholics. Morgan would however place himself in the pro-immigration side of the debate, driving tensions between the party’s liberals and restrictionists.
By 1864, pro-free trade and Western elements had begun to coalescence around a new party. The new leader, Lucius French, was a former Federalist that had remained opposed to the rebellion in his home state of Kankakee. French managed to form a party that accepted the National principles of a strong state but defending the old Federal plank of universal suffrage, free trade, free immigration to the west and harder anti-Indian policies.
1864-1866: Reuben A. Fenton (National)
1864: Eliphalet Banks (Restriction National), Lucius C. French (People’s)
Fenton was elected party leader by the National Party conference thanks to the support of western Nats and other immigration liberals. As a result, many easterners walked out, instead running as ‘Restriction National Independent’, obtaining a great deal of support in New England as especially in the Massachusetts area. In the election, the ‘official’ National candidates won a majority and Fenton began negotiating an Aliens Act in a transversal fashion.
Before it could be passed, Fenton was murdered by a former Federal rebel.
1866-1876: Francis D. Cox (National)
1868: Lucius C. French (People’s), xx (Democratic)
1872: A
With Fenton’s death, the National grandees sought instead to try and
[1] Ironical given that some of the most important leaders of the Federal Party, like Morton, were also part of the Bay Colony’s elites.